John Martin, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Butterfly Network
As a vascular surgeon practicing for over 30 years, I’ve learned that in healthcare, timely and accurate diagnosis and interventions can mean the difference between life and death. However, clinicians today face challenges such as inefficient workflows and overcrowded emergency departments, which can compromise the quality of patient care. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a transformative technology that enables advanced imaging capabilities at the bedside. I personally believe this technology is driving the biggest shift in medical practice that we’ll experience in our lifetime. History, physical, image then make an informed decision will become the new standard of care.
Butterfly Network’s latest device on the market, iQ3, is revolutionizing POCUS adoption. Our pocket-sized portable ultrasound device connects to a smartphone or tablet and uses a single probe for whole-body imaging, allowing quick scans and real-time images in various clinical scenarios. iQ3, along with any other POCUS device, works seamlessly with Butterfly’s Compass™ enterprise workflow software to provide immediate and accurate diagnostic information that is compliant and reimbursable, creating a cost-effective solution for healthcare systems – crucial in today’s limited resource landscape.
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is one of the pioneering systems that has deployed Butterfly’s devices and Compass™ software at scale to improve patient access to imaging, streamline workflows, and optimize revenue capture. This initiative represents more than a technological upgrade; it’s a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery. A recent case study concludes that “the clinical and economic value of POCUS is well-documented, with numerous studies showcasing its impact on improving clinical outcomes, enhancing efficiency, and driving cost savings.”
Dr. Michael F. Rotondo, CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group and senior vice president of URMC, agrees, “Our phased deployment of Butterfly devices and Compass software has yielded impressive clinical and administrative results at URMC to date.”
The data illustrates the scale of adoption at URMC:
- Nearly 50,000 scanning sessions completed
- Over 175,000 images generated
- More than 15,500 finalized reports produced
- 74% increase in scanning sessions in 2023
- 147% rise in studies uploaded from Butterfly devices
- 1,782% increase in images uploaded from non-Butterfly devices
Enhancing Clinical Decision-Making
This form of implementation can significantly streamline diagnostic processes across health system networks. For example, primary care physicians can now perform immediate diagnostic imaging during routine examinations, expediting treatment pathways when necessary. This capability has proven particularly valuable in detecting conditions earlier and more accurately.
URMC reports that "The enterprise-wide deployment of point-of-care ultrasound has led to significant clinical improvements, including early diagnosis of cholecystitis to avoid emergency room visits, distinguishing abscesses from cellulitis, early detection of a bladder mass in patients with poor emptying, identifying foreign bodies, detecting valvular vegetations, screening for abdominal aneurysms, and identifying thyroid nodules."
The device's impact extends beyond the exam room. Joseph DeVivo, Butterfly Network's president, CEO, and chairman, emphasizes the broader industry context: "Many health systems are inadvertently forgoing significant revenue due to unrecorded and unreimbursed ultrasound scans. Our customer data demonstrates that systematic implementation of Butterfly’s solution can capture this lost revenue while simultaneously enhancing patient care."
Measurable Outcomes for Future Scaling
URMC's ultrasound initiative offers a data-driven success story to healthcare organizations seeking solutions that balance clinical excellence with financial sustainability. The medical center has shown that strategic technology deployment can enhance both patient care and operational efficiency.
Key Lessons I Urge Hospital Management to Understand:
- Systematic Deployment Yields Better Results
A coordinated strategy amplified across departments with standardized training, unified data management through Butterfly's Compass™ and streamlined procurement is more effective than ad hoc adoption. URMC observed a 74% increase in scanning sessions, alongside “improved compliance with image retention” with this model.1 The approach ensures consistent, measurable and optimized technology adoption across the system. - Data is Powerful in Driving Ultrasound Adoption
Implementing Compass™ software enables tracking and analysis of ultrasound usage. Real-time data on scan frequency, compliance and billing helps health systems manage QA and proficiency, as well as measure the impact of POCUS technology. For URMC, this resulted in “significant increases in billing in Emergency Medicine and all other participating departments. In fact, overall POCUS charges have more than doubled across URMC’s clinical enterprise since the pilot began.”1 - POCUS at Scale Improves Quality of Care and Revenue
Wide-scale POCUS implementation demonstrates that healthcare institutions do not have to choose between improving care and controlling costs. For URMC, integrating nearly 900 devices across 64 departments created a virtuous cycle: earlier detection of conditions enabled faster diagnoses and reduced emergency department visits while improving clinical efficiency. This operational efficiency, along with a 116% increase in ultrasound charge capture, shows the dual benefit of strategic POCUS solution deployment. With the infrastructure in place, they “expect to have 2,500 Butterfly probes deployed and integrated with Compass” by 2026, completely transforming care across the continuum.1
A Clear Path to the Future of Healthcare
The impact of scaled POCUS deployment is clear: physicians across departments can routinely perform immediate diagnostic imaging during examinations, expediting treatment pathways. This approach improves care delivery and sets a new standard for immediate, accurate, and accessible healthcare delivery. Dr. Rotondo recently concluded, “URMC is proud to be at the forefront of the wide-scale deployment of innovative point-of-care ultrasound technology, and we believe it shows promise as the right care model for the medical community at large.”
Today, medical students are being trained on POCUS and individual clinicians are rapidly acquiring personally affordable POCUS devices. POCUS is inevitably the future of patient assessment, and hospital executives should feel urgency to optimize their enterprise ultrasound programs and capture the full value of this technology.
To learn more about URMC’s implementation approach, visit: http://www.butterflynetwork.com/urmc-ROI
Endnotes:
1 https://www.butterflynetwork.com/case-studies-urmc